What is the difference between christianity and a cult?

Question

"unquestioningly obey god, our almight supreme creator"?
"follow these tasks and rules to reach a certain destination in the afterlife"?
"obey obey obey or else!"

Answer 1

Counterfeit Christianity is probably the best description I can give for a cult. Counterfeit Christianity is an imitation of real Christianity. Bible terms like "Jesus Christ, Resurrection, Salvation, and Atonement" are used by the Cult, but the various cult groups have assigned entirely different meanings to these terms.
Like counterfeit money which is sometimes difficult to detect, so it is difficult to detect counterfeit Christianity, since it looks like the real thing. Experts examining counterfeit money often hold it up to a strong light and look for identifying marks. Counterfeit Christianity also has identifying marks, which can be seen when, held up to an even stronger light, the light of God's word, the bible.
We are at an advantage if we know what to expect from a cult. Cultists are very well trained to appear "Christian", and indeed believe they are the true churches, and you need the deliverance! Therefore, be bold and ask the question, "do you believe the group you represent is the only true church on the face of the earth?"
If they reply that they are, or if they are evasive, making remarks like "Well, every church has a measure of truth but...", you have made an early detection of a Cultist.
Every true Christian, if asked the same question, regardless of his denomination, would reply that the true church is comprised of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and HE (not some organization) is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, (John 14:6). No legitimate denomination would claim that they alone and their members have salvation exclusively, but the cults (the counterfeits) do.

Answer 2

Well, the definition of a cult is this: 1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : the object of such devotion .

By this definition, most religions would be a cult.

Answer 3

see also

"the Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power"

a great book about gurus, cults, and generally religion both west and eastern's main function:

Power, Control and Authority

try to leave a group...see what happens! often you will be begged not to go, then threatened with loss of spiritualness etc

Answer 4

Well, the quotes you've used must have come from some sort of cult.

Christianity says:
"Seek, and ye shall find; ask, and it shall be given; knock, and the door shall be opened."
"Christ gave freely of Himself..." "I came so that you may have life, & have it more abundantly"
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and He shall direct your path..."

Maybe I missd something here. Are these supposed to be bad things?

Answer 5

Duration. any cult that can last more than 50-100 years becomes a religion.

Answer 6

Religion is just a really big cult. Christianity started off as a cult in Rome.. Then got big and became a religion..

Answer 7

Size? Perhaps when a cult reaches a certain number of followers it ceases to be considered a cult. That's the only difference I can see.

Answer 8

a cult, by definition, is a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies. true christianity is not about religion or rules or doing such and such this way, but about a relationship with Christ.

Answer 9

The Kool Aid

Answer 10

Christianity (modern) has 12 letters
Cult has 4.